Train Schedules to Change on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines

December 16th, 2013

New timetables that reflect the completion of major track work on Metro-North Railroad will go in effect on Saturday, January 18, 2014.

With all four tracks in a six-mile stretch from Woodlawn to Melrose in service for the first time since the intensive upgrade began July 1, running times will be reduced. As future infrastructure work is completed, additional improvements will be made.

In addition, track speed is increased by 15 miles per hour to 75 mile per hours on three of the four tracks in the area for the first time in five years representing significant progress on right-of-way improvements that improve reliability.

“The complete rebuilding of this section of track is a major milestone in our ongoing effort to improve safety system-wide,” said Metro-North President Howard Permut. “We thank our customers for their patience during the past six months as we expedited these essential track repairs.”

“Rebuilt track allows trains to operate safely at higher speeds, which will reduce running times. In other locations we continue to rebuild track so that we can gradually increase safe track speeds,” Permut added.

Full train service at Melrose and Tremont stations also will resume. These stations had been served with shuttle buses to Fordham throughout the project that significantly reduced track capacity in an area that carries both Harlem and New Haven Line trains.

Running times on Harlem Line trains will be reduced by one to three minutes in the AM Peak and two to five minutes in the PM Peak. Off-peak and on weekends, running times have been reduced by up to four minutes, with most improvements around two minutes.

The New Haven Line also will benefit from progress on the right of way improvements, with running times reduced by one to two minutes overall, weekdays and weekends.

On the Hudson Line, running times for AM Peak trains will improve by up to two minutes, and for PM Peak trains by up to one minute. Running times for off-peak and weekend trains will be reduced by one to four minutes.

“Metro-North’s goal is always to provide safe, reliable service even while performing critical maintenance. The recent track project in the Bronx reduced track capacity by up to 50%. With the completion of this major project, customers should notice improvements in the service,” Permut said.